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Information for carers and the people they support

Carers and care providers play an essential role in making sure that the people they care for feel supported to access screening when invited.

The information on this page will help you if you are:

  • someone who has been invited for screening and needs support
  • an unpaid carer
  • a care worker, or
  • a health professional.

If you are an unpaid carer who provides support to someone, it is equally important that you look after your own health

We understand that you may not see yourself as a carer.

The Carers Wales ‘State of Caring Survey, 2022’ showed that half of all carers took over a year to recognise their caring role, with over a third taking more than three years to recognise themselves as a carer.

If you are a friend or family member who provides support to someone, you may find the information on this page helpful.
 

The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act (2014) defines an unpaid carer as:

'Someone who provides unpaid care to an adult or disabled child. The cared for person may be a family member or a friend, who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support. A carer could be a husband caring for his wife, a parent caring for their child who has care and support needs or a child caring for their parent.'

Taking part in screening

To make a decision about taking part in screening, a person must have:

  • access to clear and accurate information, in a format that suits their needs
  • support (if they need it) to understand the information
  • time to consider the information, and
  • further support (if they need it) to help them make a decision.  
 

For more information about screening in Wales, visit Public Health Wales Screening.